Adjustable frame for table-screens.



S. GROGKER.

ADJUSTABLE FRAME FOR TABLE SCREENS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5,1909.

952,879 Patented Mar. 22, 191i).

"f ATE SAMUEL CROCKER, OF MUSTANG, OKLAHOMA.

ADJUSTABLE FRAME FOR TABLE-SCREENS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 5, 1909. Serial No. 500,312.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CRooKnR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mustang, in the county of Canadian and State of Oklahoma,have invented a new and useful Adjustable Frame for Table- Screens, ofwhich the following is a specification.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improvedconstruction of supporting frame for canopies and the like and oneobject of the invention is to devise a construction of such characterthat it may be embodied either in a table screen supporting means or ina tent construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame for the purposestated which will be capable of adjustment to support canopies ofvarious dimensions and which may be collapsed so as to occupy but asmall amount of space when not in use.

One of the novel features of the invention resides in the constructionof the supporting legs of the device, these legs being so connected withthe main frame of the device as to permit them to be readily removed orfolded into a position against the sides of the said main frame wherebythe device will occupy less space than when they are in normal position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a canopysupporting frame constructed in accordance with the present invention.Fig. 2 is a similar view of one of the supporting legs for the device,showing a slightly modified structure thereof, Fig. 3 is a view similarto Fig. 2 but showing a still further modification, and Fig. 4 is a viewin side elevation showing the manner in which the device may be renderedapplicable for use as a supporting frame for a tent canvas.

In the drawings, the main frame of the device is shown as comprised ofsides indicated in general by the reference numeral 5, and ends,indicated in general by the reference numeral 6, these sides being madeup of the relatively angularly extending arms of corner sections whichare four in number.

It will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings thateach of the corner sections of the frame, above mentioned, includesrelatively right-angularly extending arms or members which are indicatedby the numeral 7 and a depending loop 8 located at the point of junctionof the arms 7, each of these corner sections being preferably formed ofa single strand of wire or rod metal bent upon itself, first, to formthe loop 8, then twisted as at 9 to close the upper end of the loop, andfinally with its end portions extending relatively at right angles andalso at right angles to the direction of extent of the loop. In otherwords, the loop 8, when the frame is in use, extends vertically and thearms 7 lie in a horizontal plane, one arm of each corner sectioncomprising a portion of one side 5 of the frame and the other arm of thesame corner section comprising a portion of the adjacent end 6 of theframe. The loops 8 serve as attaching means for the supporting legs ofthe frame embodying the invention and as will be presently fullydescribed, and in order that all of the corner sections of the mainframe may be connected to form a complete rectangular frame, there areprovided a number of blocks 10 formed each with a pair of openings 11which are parallel and in the same plane. These blocks 10 are arran ed apair at each side 5 and each end 6 of the main frame and the arms 7 ofthe corner sections comprising each side and each end of the said mainframe are engaged slidably through the openings 11 and are held atadjustments by means of suitable set screws 12 which are insertedthrough adjacent sides of the blocks 10 and bear each against one of thearms 7 As will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. l of thedrawings, by loosening the set screws 12 of the blocks 10, the framesections being in closely assembled condition as illustrated in the saidFig. 1 of the drawings, the blocks 10, upon the frame sections beingpulled apart, will slide each over one of the arms 7 of the two sectionswhich it holds in adjustment, the said set screws being tightened assoon as the frame has been expanded to the desired extent. It will bereadily understood from the foregoing description of the connectingmeans for the frame sections, that these frame sections are to beadjusted by loosening only one set screw of each block so that, whereasthe set screw engaging the arm 7 of one section will be in grippingengagement with the said arm, the set screw of the other block 10 whichcooperates with the said arm 7 of the same section, will be loosened soas to permit of the sliding of the arm through this last mentionedblock. It will also be understood from the foregoing that the main frameof Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

the screen supporting device may, by reason j ence numeral 20, whichsupport the said top of the construction above described, be ad justedto support a canopy, screen, tent canvas, or similar member regardlessof the size of the same within, of course, certain limits.

The supporting legs for the main frame of the device are illustrated, inFig. 1 of the drawings, as comprised each of a single strand of wirebent upon itself midway of its ends to aflord a foot 13, the portions ofthe leg above the foot 13 being bent to form eyes 14 and eyes 15, theeyes 15 being located at the upperextremities of the strands of wireforming the leg. As is clearly shown in the said Fig. 1 of the drawings,the wire, being bent upon itself, affords a leg having spaced portionsand these portions, at their upper ends, are so relatively spaced as toleave between them the depending loop 8 at one corner of the frame ofthe device, eyes 14 and 15 being so relatively spaced as to registerwith the ends of this loop. Upon assembling the legs with the loops 8 inthe relation stated, there are engaged, through the eyes 14, eyes 15,and corresponding ends of the loops 8, the laterally right angularlyturned ends 16 of a brace member 17, one of the portions 16 of eachbrace member being threaded and having engaged thereon a thumb nut 18whereby the brace member will be held firmly in position, the otherportion 16 of the said member, by reason of its engagement through theeyes 14: and loops 8, serving to firmly brace the respective leg againstfolding upon the corner section with which it is associated.

\Vhile the brace members 17 perform the function of holding the legsrigid with respect to the corner sections with which they areassociated, it will be readily understood from the foregoing descriptionthat by lifting the set screw 18 of each brace member and partlydisengaging the brace member so as to bring its portion 16 which engagesthrough the eyes 14 and lower end of the loop 8, out of engagement withthese elements, the legs may be swung upon the por tions 16 of therespective brace members which engage through the eyes 15 and the upperends of the loops 8 so that the will then he in position against theends 6 of the frame, the set screws 18being again tightened after thelegs have been so folded.

Vhile not absolutely essential in all. instances, there is preferablyprovided, in conneetion with the frame heretofore described and itssupporting legs, a top frame which extends upwardly from theaforementioned frame and is adjustable therewith so as not to interferewith the adjustments had between the corner sections of the said frameand among other elements, this top frame includes a top bar or memberindicated in general by the reference numeral 19 and end uprights,indicated in general by the refermember 19. In constructing the topmember 19 and uprights 20, material of the same character as employed inthe construction of the frame previously described, is used and both thetop member 19 and the end uprights 20 are extensible and are hence comprised each of members or sections connected for sliding adjustment. Onemember of each end upright, namely the lower member thereof, isindicated by the numeral 21 and is in the nature of a length of wire orrod material formed at its lower end with an upturned hook 22 whichconnects pivotally with an eye 2?) at the upper end of a block 2%. itbeing understood that by this construction, the sections 21 may bereadily disconnected from or connected with its blocks 24. T his block24 is formed with an opening 25 for the passage of that arm 7 of onecorner section which constitutes a portion of one end of the main frame,there being a set screw 26 threaded through the block 2st and bearingagainst this arm whereby to hold the block at adjustment thereon, theblock being positioned substantially midway of the ends of the said endof the frame. Similarly, the block 24 is formed in its lower end with aslot 27 in which is received the other arm 7 constituting the end of theframe, this engagement of the block with the last memtioned arm 7serving to firmly brace the block against turning upon the firstmentioned arm upon which it held at various positions of adjustment.

At the upper end, the lower member 21 of each upright is formed with aneye 28 for the passage of the upper member of the said upright whichmember is indicated by the numeral 29 and is formed, similarly, with aneye 30 at its lower end through which the lower member 21 of the uprightis slidably engaged, it being understood that the two members 29 and 21may be, by reason of this construction, so adjusted as to lengthen orshorten the upright as a whole. In forming the member 29 of each endupright 20, a length of wire or similar material is bent intermediate ofits ends as at 32 to form an eye, the said member 29, and a portion 38which extends at an angle from the said member 29. The portions 33 justmentioned are formed each at its extremity with an eye 34 through whichthe other portion 33 is slidably engaged, the said portions when soassembled, constituting the top member 19 of the top frame of the device, it being understood, that by reason of this construction, the saidtop member is extensible like the uprights 20.

In addition to the top member and the up right just described, the topframe comprises also brace members which are indicated by the numeral34k and are in the 11ature of rods formed at their upper and lower endswith eyes pivotally connecting with the members 33, adjacent the eyes32, and at their lower ends with the arms 7 which constitute the sidesof the frame. These brace members 34 are inextensible, being integralthroughout, and therefore they serve to firmly support the top member 19and upright 20. As above stated, the upper ends of the brace members 34are piv otally connected with the members 33 constituting the top member19 and in order to prevent sliding of the upper ends of these bracemembers 34 along the members 33, there is provided a locking devicewhich will now be described, this device serving the additional functionof bracing the members 33 against relative sliding movement whereby thetop member as an entirety will be firmly braced against accidentalextension. The locking member above described is formed of a rod 36which, adjacent its ends, is bent to form right angularly projectingarms 37 and at its said ends to form convoluted eyes 38. In assemblingthe locking member 36 with the top frame 19, the convoluted eyes 38 areengaged with the eyes 32 at the ends of the top member 19 of the saidtop frame and the arms 37 are then swung downwardly whereby to cause theconvolutions of the eyes 38- to ride through the eyes 32 and lock thebar 36 with its arms projecting vertically downwardly. Prior to swingingdown the arms 37 of the locking member as above described, the upperends of the brace members 34 are so positioned as to lie between theadjacent eyes 32 and arms 37 when the locking member is in lockedposition so that movement of the said upper ends of the brace membersalong the members 33 of the top frame will be efiectually prevented andat the same time the said members 33 will be held against relativesliding movement or in other words the top member composed of thesemembers 33 will be held against accidental extension.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, the bracing member 17 is dispensed with andin its place there is provided a bolt 40 which is engaged through theeyes 15 and the upper end of the loop 8 and has threaded upon it a nut41, this bolt serving as a pivot for the leg with which it is associatedin the same manner as the upper one of the end portions 16 of thebracing member 17 as heretofore described and shown in Fig. 1 of thedraw ings. Engaged through the eyes 14 and the lower end of the loop 8is the shank of a bolt 42 having at one end a flat head 43 and havingthreaded upon its other end a wing nut 44 it being understood thatnormally the engagement of this bolt through the -eyes 14 and the loop 8will serve to hold the leg through the eyes of which it is engageagainst folding upon the end of the frame of the device but that uponremoval of this bolt 42, the said leg may be swung to the positionstated and the bolt either laid aside for further use or reinsertedthrough the eyes 14 to prevent its loss.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, a construction similar to that shown in Fig.2 is disclosed with the exception that the leg of the frame is in thisinstance in the nature of a cast or similarly formed leg 45 bifurcatedthroughout its upper portion as at 46 to receive the loop 8, thefurcations formed by bifurcating the leg as above stated being providedwith openings (not shown) for the passage of the bolts 40 and 42heretofore described in connection with the form of the invention shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Fig. 4 of the drawings illustrates the manner in which the frameembodying the invention may be employed as a supporting frame for a tentcanvas and when used in his relation, there is connected to each eye 32,a guy rope 47 which is attached at its other end to a stake or the likesuitably located and driven into the ground. It is also desirable, inusing the frame in the manner stated, to secure the supporting legs ofthe frame to the ground and for this purpose there is provided an anchorwhich is of substantially inverted U-shape with its legs spread apart ordiverging as clearly shown in the said Fig. 4, this anchor beingindicated by the numeral 48 and being engaged through the loop formingthe foot 13 of the said leg, it being understood that the anchor is tobe driven into the ground in the same manner as if it were a stake.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be readilyunderstood that the main frame may be contracted or expanded to thedesired dimensions and that simultaneously with this adjustment, themembers of the top frame will be adjusted and that after such adjustmenthas been obtained, the parts may be firmly locked in position andagainst accidental disarrange- 110 ment. Also, as heretofore stated, thetop frame may be omitted if found expedient or desirable, it beingcapable of being readily dismounted from the main frame, and also ifdesired, the supporting legs may be re- 115 moved from the loops 8 andthese corner loops may then serve as a supporting means for the frame.Therefore, the invention is well adapted to use under numerous differentconditions and is capable of a wide 120 range of adjustment.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a framecomprising extensible sides, supporting legs located one at each cornerof them?) frame, uprights extending upwardly from opposite sides of theframe, an extensible top member supported at the upper end of theuprights, brace members connecting the top member and the other sides ofthe frame, 130

and a locking bar mounted upon the top member and having dependingportions rest-- ing against the said member and acting to retain theupper ends of the brace members in'nnovable with respect to the said topmemher.

2. In av frame of the class described, corner frame members formed of asingle strand o't wire bent to atiord a closed dependingloopconstituting a leg section, the portions of the Wire at each side of theloop constituting each one section of one side of the frame, meansconnecting the related side sections, and a leg section as sembled witheach of the first mentioned leg sections and comprising a single strandof Wire bent upon itselt to afford spaced portions straddling therespective leg sections atthe corners and securing bolts engaged throughthe said loops and the por tions of the last mentioned leg sectionsstraddling the loops.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atlixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SAIMIUEL CROCKER.

lVitnesses R. C. Minor, T. J. VAN ARsnnLL.

